T-L File Photo/KIM NORTH ST. CLAIRSVILLE American Legion Post 159 catcher Jakob Jarvis applies a tag during a game at Cambridge last summer. Ohio American Legion baseball announced that it is planning a regular season, district and state tournaments. When practices can begin has yet to be determined.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — There will be no American Legion Baseball regional tournaments or world series this summer due to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. That decision was announced previously in a press release by The Americanism Commission, in consultation with National Commander James William “Bill” Oxford.

On March 24, the National American Legion Baseball committee strongly encouraged and recommended that American Legion teams put all activities, such as team meetings, tryouts, practices, etc., on hold until all restrictions have been lifted. The recommendation has the endorsement of the National Americanism Commission and is under the guidelines issued by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who has demanded schools across the Buckeye State closed until at least May 1.

However, according to St. Clairsville Post 159 manager Mike Muklewicz, he’s prepared to play ball whenever the governor says it’s okay.

“We’re at the mercy of the state right now,” he said. “It’s just a wait and see process.”

While the Ohio High School Athletic Association hasn’t made any decisions on the remainder of the baseball season in the Buckeye State, Muklewicz knows it will make the right one.

“The OHSAA wants what is best for the kids, and so do we,” he added. “We’re going to have a district and state tournament. We just don’t know when.”

The state tournament is currently scheduled for July 29-Aug. 1 at Beavers Field in Lancaster.

Post 159, which won back-to-back district championships in 2016-17, was scheduled to open up on June 3.

“That will definitely be pushed back,” Muklewicz noted. “If the high school season gets canceled all together, that will be devastating, not only to the seniors, but to the juniors, sophomores and freshmen. You hate to wipe out an entire year.

“It’s probably indicative of what is to come, but it looks like right now it will be up to each state,” he said. “I’ve been in contact with (Post 159 officials) Larry Barnes and Rick Johnson and the only thing we had been told was to limit tryouts, practices and meetings.”

Muklewicz, who will be entering his fifth year as the Post 159 skipper and seventh with the program overall, should the season be played, said his 16-player roster has been set for some time, but he and the administration are in limbo as what to do as far as ordering uniforms and equipment.

“We have fundraisers scheduled, but we’re up in the air right now,” he added. “Our golf scramble has been canceled and that’s one of our biggest fundraisers.”